10 things to decide before you start
Selling made-to-measure curtains, blinds and soft furnishings online can open up a whole new sales channel for your business. But unlike selling standard, off-the-shelf products, taking made-to-measure products online requires considerably more thought.
When every order can be different, from the customer's measurements and chosen fabric to the heading style, lining, finish and installation requirements, your website needs to do much more than simply display products and take payment.
It needs to help customers make the right choices, calculate an accurate price and provide you with everything you need to manufacture their order correctly.
That's where ACE Online can play an important role.
What is ACE Online?
ACE Online is a specialist online sales and calculation solution designed for the soft furnishings industry. It allows businesses to take their existing made-to-measure products, fabrics, options and pricing structures and bring them online, giving customers the ability to configure products and receive accurate pricing based on their requirements.
For businesses selling made-to-measure curtains, blinds and other soft furnishings, this means your website can handle the complex calculations that would traditionally be carried out manually including measurements, fabric requirements, making costs, mark-ups, options and additional charges according to the way your business operates.
Importantly, you don't need to be starting from scratch. If you're not already using ACE Online, you'll need to implement ACE Online to calculate the measurements, fabric requirements, pricing and mark-ups based on your individual business preferences and product rules.
Your website can then provide the customer-facing experience, while ACE Online works behind the scenes to support the calculations and configuration required for your made-to-measure products.
Before you start building your online shop, however, there are some important decisions to make.
1. What do you actually want customers to do online?
Before thinking about website design, decide what you want your customers to be able to do.
Do you want customers to simply browse your curtain and blind collections and submit an enquiry? Would you like them to request a quote? Or do you want them to configure their own made-to-measure curtains, blinds or soft furnishings, receive an instant calculation and place and pay for their order online?
You may even want a combination of these options.
For example, you could offer straightforward made-to-measure products for online purchase while directing customers towards an enquiry or consultation for more complex projects.
Understanding the customer journey you want to create will help determine what your website and online calculation system need to support.
2. What products do you want to sell online?
It can be tempting to put your entire product range online immediately, but starting with a clearly defined selection can make the process much more manageable.
Think about which made-to-measure curtains, blinds and soft furnishings are most suitable for online sales.
You might begin with:
- Made-to-measure curtains
- Roman blinds
- Roller blinds
- Curtains with different heading styles
- Cushions and other soft furnishings
- Selected fabric collections
Consider which products have straightforward enough rules and options to allow customers to configure them confidently online.
You can always expand your online range later as you become more comfortable with the process.
3. Which fabrics will be available online?
Fabric selection is one of the most important parts of selling soft furnishings online. Consider which fabric suppliers, collections and individual fabrics you want customers to be able to browse and select.
You'll need to think about how your fabrics will be presented, including:
- Fabric names and codes
- Supplier information
- Colour options
- Fabric images
- Pattern information
- Pattern repeats
- Fabric widths
- Pricing
- Availability
For made-to-measure curtains and blinds, fabric choice can also directly affect the amount of fabric required and the final product price, so your online system needs to account for these variables when calculating each order.
4. What options will customers be able to choose?
When a customer visits your showroom, you're able to talk them through all the different options available. Online, those choices need to be clearly presented and easy to understand.
Think about all the decisions you would normally make during a face-to-face consultation.
For curtains, this could include:
- Heading styles
- Fullness
- Lining options
- Interlining
- Fabric choice
- Drop and width
- Finish and details
- Pole or track requirements
For blinds, customers may need to choose different styles, fabrics, operating options, finishes and fitting requirements.
The more choices you offer, the more important it becomes to make the online configuration process simple and intuitive.
5. How will your online pricing work?
This is one of the biggest considerations when selling made-to-measure soft furnishings online.
Unlike a standard retail product with one fixed price, a made-to-measure curtain or blind can have a price determined by multiple factors.
Your calculation may need to take into account: measurements + fabric + making + options + extras + mark-up + delivery + fitting = final price.
For curtains, for example, the customer's width and drop can affect fabric requirements, while the chosen heading, fullness, lining and fabric can all influence the final cost.
For blinds, measurements, fabric, style, operating mechanism and additional options may all need to be incorporated into the calculation.
This is where having a system capable of handling made-to-measure calculations becomes particularly important. ACE Online can be configured around your business's own product rules, calculations and pricing structure, helping ensure the price presented online reflects the way you actually sell and manufacture your products.
6. How will you help customers provide the correct measurements?
Measurements are critical when selling made-to-measure curtains and blinds online.
A customer may be perfectly comfortable choosing a fabric and style, but they may not know exactly how to measure a window for curtains or blinds.
Consider what support you'll provide, such as:
- Step-by-step measuring guides
- Written instructions
- Measurement diagrams
- Instructional videos
- Guidance on measuring for different products
- Advice on recess or exact measurements
- Information about when a professional measuring service is recommended
The easier you make the process, the more confident customers are likely to feel about ordering online. It's also important to make it clear where the responsibility for measurements sits and when you recommend using your own professional measuring service.
7. How will delivery and fitting work?
Made-to-measure soft furnishings don't simply arrive in a box and get left at the customer's door in every situation.
Think about what happens once the product has been manufactured. Will you offer:
- Customer collection?
- Delivery?
- Professional fitting?
- Delivery and fitting?
- A combination depending on the customer's location?
You'll also need to consider which geographical areas you can realistically service and whether delivery or fitting charges need to be incorporated into your online pricing.
Making these options clear from the beginning can help avoid confusion later in the ordering process.
8. How will customers pay?
Once you've calculated the price of a made-to-measure order, how do you want the customer to pay?
Some businesses may require full payment at the point of order, while others may take a deposit before production begins.
Consider which payment methods you want to offer and how these will integrate with your website.
You may also want to consider whether customers need to accept specific terms and conditions before paying, particularly where products are made specifically to the customer's measurements and requirements.
The payment process should feel straightforward and secure while still fitting with the way your business currently operates.
9. Where will your product information and imagery come from?
A successful online soft furnishings store needs high-quality product information.
Customers can't physically touch your fabrics or see your curtains hanging in a room, so your website needs to provide as much useful information as possible.
Consider where you'll source:
- Fabric images
- Product photography
- Lifestyle images
- Fabric descriptions
- Colour information
- Product specifications
- Supplier information
- Care instructions
- Pattern and repeat information
You may also want to provide additional imagery showing different curtain headings, blind styles, linings and finishes so customers can understand exactly what they're choosing.
Good product information isn't just about making your website look professional — it helps your customers make informed purchasing decisions.
10. What happens after a customer places an order?
Your online customer journey doesn't end when the payment is taken.
Before launching your online store, think through what happens behind the scenes. What happens when an order arrives?
- Who checks the customer's measurements?
- Who checks the fabric availability?
- How are the manufacturing requirements communicated?
- How are special instructions handled?
- Who arranges delivery or fitting?
- How will the customer be kept informed?
For a made-to-measure business, the online order needs to flow smoothly into your existing production and fulfilment process.
The more of this process you can structure and automate, the less time your team needs to spend manually checking calculations, transferring information and communicating basic order details.
Ready to take your soft furnishings business online?
Selling made-to-measure curtains, blinds and soft furnishings online can be a fantastic opportunity, but the technology behind the website needs to understand that you're not selling standard products with fixed prices. You're selling products that are calculated, configured and manufactured around each individual customer's requirements. That's why the right online solution matters.
ACE Online is designed to support the complex calculations involved in selling made-to-measure soft furnishings online, helping businesses manage measurements, fabric requirements, product options, pricing and mark-ups according to their own business rules.
Whether you're looking to sell made-to-measure curtains, blinds, Roman blinds or other soft furnishings, the first step is understanding exactly what you want your customers to be able to do online and what needs to happen behind the scenes to make that possible.
If you're considering selling your soft furnishings online and want to understand what ACE Online could do for your business, get in touch with CCM ACE to discuss your requirements.
